Exciting times for you!

My brother has literally just finished an almost identical extension and his house has very similar angles to yours. (However his utility/wc sticks out on the opposite side underneath the stairs). He and his wife had very similar issues - in the end they kept the kitchen in a very similar position to where it was before the extension - but the units that were on the old wall facing the side return have been replaced with an island. This left them with the area from the original middle room (your new kitchen space) as a lovely sitting room (they also had a fire place in this bit) and then their dining table in the section nearest the garden. It’s a huge success and looks amazing!

I’m useless with editing photos on my phone - but the yellow shows where they put their kitchen. The cupboards on the left fit into the same floor space as their old kitchen. The units come to a natural end as there is almost a mini pillar where the room was extended out into the garden. The layout works well because there are clear zones for the sofas and the dining table, plus the island has plenty of space around it too. This layout probably also saved them quite a bit because it means that services are in similar positions to before.

Thanks Sarah, I really like this idea, have they put a TV up anywhere I’d be interested to know where?

The TV has been an issue!!! They don’t have the double doors into the lounge area - they have a wall. The plan was to put the tv onto that wall but as they have literally only just finished, the sofas arrived yesterday and they have put one on that wall and one facing it with a nice big rug in between. They might rearrange when the tv arrives. The tv could go on their chimney (which I guess is where your window out to where your car is). They also quite like the Samsung Serif tv which is freestanding - that would give lots more options.

Where do you plan to put your dining/kitchen table? How many kitchen units or equivalent do you plan to have and where will they go? Your kitchen area has so many doors there is not much wall space. Are you planning to have an island? When you open your lounge doors what will you see? Where will you be in the house?

I agree that the middle is not ideal for kitchen. That middle will just become a passageway through the house.... whatever you do with this space it's going to that.

Do you need another family room? Why not just extend the kitchen to make it the size you want?

I think you need another plan.

Also - do you need the double doors into the lounge? Could it be blocked up and then reinstate a door from the hallway? This would then give you a full wall to play with.

Hi there! I'm working on a new TV series of 'Sarah Beeny's Renovate Don't Relocate' in which Sarah Beeny helps people decide how to utilise the space in their homes and you seem perfect for it. If you're interested in applying, please do email me at chiomah@outlineproductions.co.uk

I am with your partner the middle is the obvious place as you are coming with the shopping bags and you can drop them immediately whether you are entering from the garage or the main entrance. It’s also very well connected with the utility room which you can extend the use of for unsightly kitchen related purposes.
It also works really well when you have parties ppl like to gather around an island (if you put one) and spread out either in the lounge if things get more quiet or on the side that leads into the garden if there is dancing involved.
I did the same in my house and I haven’t regretted.

Kitchen at the back where this is lots of natural light! You could have the lounge/ tv area in the middle and then a dining table lengthways overlooking the garden. I would get rid of the double doors and put a noise blocking partition in and make the front room an adult space.

if you make a partition wall slightly longer by the side of the storage under a stair and have only bottom kitchen units as a first two 2x450mm you could position your TV can be there above and have top and bottom kitchen units and then move a hob to the end of a row close to the external wall (it would be easy ducting as well then) position your island close to the kitchen just enough to pass in between kitchen island and kitchen units and have chest of draws for all kitchen stuff in a left hand side of the island.

i would say leave about 900mm gap at least and put all your chairs on a front on a back and on a right side of it opposite to a kitchen.

think about more likely a long island so then you could easily watch the TV as well positioned on a right hand side of a kitchen close to the stair.

Hi Becci!

Next week I'm running a FREE 5 Day Get Ready To Redesign Challenge that will help you. If you'd like to join in and get my help for free with figuring out how to start redesigning your home I'd love that. You can sign up here: https://www.i-architect.co.uk/readytoredesign.html

All the best with your project!

Jane x

i-architect.co.uk